Monday 20 February 2012 10.58 EST
First published on Monday 20 February 2012 10.58 EST

Avram Grant says the Iranian side Sepahan Isfahan have pulled out of a friendly with his Partizan Belgrade side because he is Israeli.

Partizan had been due to play the Iranians this Friday in Antalya, but have been informed their opponents will not take part any more.

In an explanation posted on Partizan's official website, the former Chelsea, Portsmouth and West Ham United manager said he had been told "unofficially" that the match had been cancelled because he was Israeli, and called the decision "shameful".

"I never mixed politics with sports," he said. "I had worked with many [Muslims] while I was in England, and I made friends with many of them."

Partizan say they had to switch their usual winter preparations from Dubai to Antalya because of Grant's Israeli citizenship.